Sandy MaloneNew York, NY – An attack on the top uniformed police official in the New York Police Department (NYPD) and three other cops during an altercation with protesters on the Brooklyn Bridge Monday morning was captured on surveillance video (video below).
The incident occurred when “Defund the Police” protesters from City Hall tried to cross over to the Brooklyn Bridge, WABC reported.
At about 10 a.m., they crossed paths with a pro-police “Stop the Violence” demonstration.
NYPD Chief of Department Terry Monahan, a sergeant, and a lieutenant from his office were marching with the pro-police clergy group, according to WABC.
When protesters jumped into traffic lanes, Chief Monahan and the others moved to take him into custody.
Video from surveillance cameras mounted on the Manhattan side of the bridge showed that numerous protesters tried to intervene and prevent officers from making an arrest.
One protester with a pipe or large stick reached over the fence and whacked one of the white-shirted officials on the shoulder and head, the video showed.
The video showed the sergeant unholstered his Taser and pointed it at the growing crowd on the walkway above them just as the other two officials pulled the resisting suspect free from the fence and walked him to a waiting police car.
An NYPD spokesman said that Chief Monahan’s finger was broken when he was struck with an object during the incident, the New York Post reported.
The two officers who were with him during the altercation with the violent protesters were seriously hurt.
The sergeant and lieutenant were transported to the hospital in need of stitches, WABC reported.
A fourth officer was also hurt in an unrelated altercation during the protest.
NYPD posted pictures to its official Twitter account that showed multiple police officials bleeding from the head after attacks by violent protesters, WABC reported.
Additional footage of the serious injuries our officers sustained on the Brooklyn Bridge. pic.twitter.com/Ja9lTpQu0G
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) July 15, 2020
Police made 36 arrests during the July 15 protest, all of whom appeared to be part of the “Occupy City Hall” group.
None of the people arrested were part of the “Stop the Violence” rally calling for an end to gun violence, WABC reported.
Those marchers were angry and frustrated about the attack on police during their own demonstration.
“We support the police and we need their help because this city is becoming a war zone,” police supporter Tamara Lashchyk told WABC.
“We’re fighting for unity. It just seems that there’s so much violence,” Bill Casey, from the NYPD Retired Sergeant Association, said. “And the cops are being portrayed as villains instead of what they really are, which is heroes.”
Sources told The Police Tribune that usually cops would anticipate that a violent attack on a high-level official would lead to a crackdown by police, but that in Chief Monahan’s case, nothing would be likely to change as a result.
Chief Monahan’s popularity has suffered a massive hit amongst the rank-and-file in recent weeks, department sources told The Police Tribune.
The chief, a 38-year veteran of the police force, took a knee and hugged anti-police protesters on June 1 in Washington Square Park in what was interpreted by many officers as a slap in the face, the New York Post reported.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio was expected to sign a package of police reform legislation on Wednesday, WABC reported.
Watch the incident on the bridge unfold in the video below. Warning – Graphic Content
Three officers violently attacked by protesters crossing the Brooklyn Bridge. The officers sustained serious injuries.
This is not peaceful protest, this will not be tolerated. pic.twitter.com/cYuDX8G7ku
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) July 15, 2020
Holly Matkin